Stagea M35 Transmission Service

[pixel8r]

Hi Guys,

i've posted in the QLD section and had a few workshops suggested for general servicing but none of these do transmission servicing on these cars.

I need my transmission serviced (oil/filter changed etc) in the next 2 weeks and have no idea which workshop(s) can do this.

If anyone knows of a reputable place to get this done please let me know.

I also need the engine serviced as well but it should be easier to find places to do this.

At the very least does anyone know what parts are required/suitable for transmission servicing on M35's, and also what oil/filter is recommended for the engine as well...?

Thanks!

P.S. i'm on the south side but at this stage I'd be happy to just find a place that will do it without waiting 2 weeks for nissan to import parts (surely there are aftermarket parts for these that are good quality).

Edited December 9, 2008 by pixel8r

[iamhe77]

Hi Guys,

i've posted in the QLD section and had a few workshops suggested for general servicing but none of these do transmission servicing on these cars.

I need my transmission serviced (oil/filter changed etc) in the next 2 weeks and have no idea which workshop(s) can do this.

If anyone knows of a reputable place to get this done please let me know.

I also need the engine serviced as well but it should be easier to find places to do this.

At the very least does anyone know what parts are required/suitable for transmission servicing on M35's, and also what oil/filter is recommended for the engine as well...?

Thanks!

P.S. i'm on the south side but at this stage I'd be happy to just find a place that will do it without waiting 2 weeks for nissan to import parts (surely there are aftermarket parts for these that are good quality).

Why not just take it to Nissan?

Ask them to put their special "satchel" in. It does make the transmission even smoother. You will need to utilise the art of persuasion though.

It should only cost $250 for the full service & satchel.

If the transmission is operating nicely, why do you feel the need to have it serviced?

Nissan actually do not recommend our particular transmission serviced at all as they are designed to be "maintenance free.

That's not just here, but Japan as well.... apparently.

[pixel8r]

Why not just take it to Nissan?

Ask them to put their special "satchel" in. It does make the transmission even smoother. You will need to utilise the art of persuasion though.

It should only cost $250 for the full service & satchel.

If the transmission is operating nicely, why do you feel the need to have it serviced?

Nissan actually do not recommend our particular transmission serviced at all as they are designed to be "maintenance free.

That's not just here, but Japan as well.... apparently.

hmm already tried my local nissan dealer (moorooka). They dont service imports at all. They said they can do a very basic service but in general they normally dont touch them. I haven't tried any other dealers - I have the feeling it would depend on their technicians and how confident they are with imports.

I was originally keen on the satchel you mentioned, but finding out the above I decided just to go elsewhere. Maybe I should have tried other dealers...? if anyone else has been to a nissan dealer in brisbane it'd be helpful to everyone to find out.

I ended up going with Western Suburbs Automatics (www.wsautomatics.com.au).

My transmission has been very sluggish right from the start and has showed some unusual behaviour, mainly around if I lifted my foot gently when cruising and then gently put it back on the throttle, I could feel the gearbox disengage and engage. I realise mostly this is normal but it felt too harsh to be considered normal in my opinion. And it was frustrating at times due to it feeling like it had to "wake up" again if, for example traffic cleared in front of me and I wanted to speed up.

Mainly I think just the oil change would have been what it needed but I felt it couldnt' hurt to have an auto specialist have a look at the same time.

When you say it should be "maintenance free" I assume you would still agree that a transmission oil & filter change is necessary every 12 months or so.

[iamhe77]

hmm already tried my local nissan dealer (moorooka). They dont service imports at all. They said they can do a very basic service but in general they normally dont touch them. I haven't tried any other dealers - I have the feeling it would depend on their technicians and how confident they are with imports.

I was originally keen on the satchel you mentioned, but finding out the above I decided just to go elsewhere. Maybe I should have tried other dealers...? if anyone else has been to a nissan dealer in brisbane it'd be helpful to everyone to find out.

I ended up going with Western Suburbs Automatics (www.wsautomatics.com.au).

My transmission has been very sluggish right from the start and has showed some unusual behaviour, mainly around if I lifted my foot gently when cruising and then gently put it back on the throttle, I could feel the gearbox disengage and engage. I realise mostly this is normal but it felt too harsh to be considered normal in my opinion. And it was frustrating at times due to it feeling like it had to "wake up" again if, for example traffic cleared in front of me and I wanted to speed up.

Mainly I think just the oil change would have been what it needed but I felt it couldnt' hurt to have an auto specialist have a look at the same time.

When you say it should be "maintenance free" I assume you would still agree that a transmission oil & filter change is necessary every 12 months or so.

What did Western Automatics have to say about the transmission? Anything wrong? Were they able to replicate the "unusual behavior"?

ANY Nissan dealership can "deal" with the transmission.

I would look at a different dealership. If they won't even look at an import, you can bet that their service staff are of sub-par ability.

I have found that you have to be VERY selective with Nissan dealerships.

When I quizzed the guys at Ferntree Gully about the transmission, they stated that there was no need to change the fluids once it has been sealed up.

I was also told by another workshop that "these transmissions do not have filters, much like the Patrol transmissions".

Dunno. I would prefer to see for myself that there is no filter... But I have been told my more than one dealership (phone calls) that it is not recommended to change AT Fluid.

[andy65b]

What did Western Automatics have to say about the transmission? Anything wrong? Were they able to replicate the "unusual behavior"?

ANY Nissan dealership can "deal" with the transmission.

I would look at a different dealership. If they won't even look at an import, you can bet that their service staff are of sub-par ability.

I have found that you have to be VERY selective with Nissan dealerships.

When I quizzed the guys at Ferntree Gully about the transmission, they stated that there was no need to change the fluids once it has been sealed up.

I was also told by another workshop that "these transmissions do not have filters, much like the Patrol transmissions".

Dunno. I would prefer to see for myself that there is no filter... But I have been told my more than one dealership (phone calls) that it is not recommended to change AT Fluid.

I'll have a look on FAST tonight and see if there is a Filter on the transmission. I have been told the Trans fluid should be changed like the plugs, every 80 100'000 k's

Cheers

Andy

[iamhe77]

I'll have a look on FAST tonight and see if there is a Filter on the transmission. I have been told the Trans fluid should be changed like the plugs, every 80 100'000 k's

Cheers

Andy

Ahh, the journey of discovery continues

Edited December 10, 2008 by iamhe77

[pixel8r]

Very interesting...

However, I can definitely say the transmission is now very much improved. Everything just feels so much smoother. The workshop didn't mention any "problems" with it. I'd say it just needed new oil.

The oil was replaced with synthetic transmission oil so that may have contributed to the smoother shifts. All up I'm pretty happy with it now. The gear shifts are still not as quick as I'd like but that should be fixable down the track. Anybody know if MV Automatics in SA can do shift kits for these as well? I had one in my previous stagea (s2) and loved it!!

[andy65b]

Very interesting...

However, I can definitely say the transmission is now very much improved. Everything just feels so much smoother. The workshop didn't mention any "problems" with it. I'd say it just needed new oil.

The oil was replaced with synthetic transmission oil so that may have contributed to the smoother shifts. All up I'm pretty happy with it now. The gear shifts are still not as quick as I'd like but that should be fixable down the track. Anybody know if MV Automatics in SA can do shift kits for these as well? I had one in my previous stagea (s2) and loved it!!

I spoke to them earlier in the year and they said they could do it but they do not have a spare valve to convert ahead of time. This means you have to have yours removed and then send it off to them, I think they said about 2-3 days to convert it and then sent back. About 5 days all up. The cost was similar to the C34 Stagea to do which if the memory serves correctly was about $280 (but don't quote me LOL).

They also mentioned that they make the valve a little softer in gear changes than 2 wheel drives so as not to load up the 4 wheel drive transmission. But this should be the same as a C34 Stagea.

Let us know how you go when you do it?

Cheers

Andy

[andy65b]

I checked on FAST and can not see a Filter in the diagram for the transmission.

I can tell you the part number for the oil for the transmission. KLE23-00002.

Cheers

Andy

[zei20l]

so $280 for a shift kit?? why does that seem very cheap. or are you just talking about replacement valves?

[andy65b]

so $280 for a shift kit?? why does that seem very cheap. or are you just talking about replacement valves?

That was the cost of changing the valve only. From memory LOL.

[iamhe77]

I checked on FAST and can not see a Filter in the diagram for the transmission.

I can tell you the part number for the oil for the transmission. KLE23-00002.

Cheers

Andy

Would that lend you to think that the Nissan guys are correct when they say there is no filter?

Edited December 10, 2008 by iamhe77

[andy65b]

Would that lend you to think that the Nissan guys are correct when they say there is no filter?

yes.

[iamhe77]

yes.

So then, with a design that requires no filter - meaning nothing can get in - all we need to do is put in some quality fluid and "set and forget".....

[zei20l]

has anyone noticed there is no fuel filter either?

[iamhe77]

has anyone noticed there is no fuel filter either?

Hadn't actually looked (am 5000km's from replacing it - if it is there!)

If it is not hidden away somewhere, it would explain why the car can run better on some tank fillups than others.

[zei20l]

its not there, no fast part number either lol

i was surprised!!

[iamhe77]

its not there, no fast part number either lol

i was surprised!!

Surprised could be labeled as an understatement!

I have just been elevated to "Paranoid Level" when it comes to which fuel goes in.

[pixel8r]

so $280 for a shift kit?? why does that seem very cheap. or are you just talking about replacement valves?

When I got mine fitted at MV Automatics on my previous stagea, I lived in SA so I actually dropped off my car there and picked it up that afternoon.

Cost me $440 and that included new oil & filter. If there was one mod I would DEFINITELY do again it was that one!

Their prices may have gone up since, that was back in 2006.

[zei20l]

anyone know what they do to make them shit faster? id LOVE for my stagea to shift even a little bit faster